Practice for Smarter Targets

[5263]

Originally Posted by NE1for10is?

I'm looking forward to drilling and applying this to singles as soon as I can. Being able to hit angles as well as hitting down the center too much has always been a thorn in my side.

I would be very interested in seeing this applied towards doubles. Unfortunately, the graphics that the OP posts don't show up for me on this thread, so I can't see the 'avoid zone' areas and I'm having difficulty visualizing this as applied for doubles.

Can someone post a graphic of the target areas for doubles?

For doubles-
It is pretty easy to just imagine targets near the center T and both side Ts.
Use the center T for hitting between the opponents
and the side T for heavy crosscourt and down the lines.

For singles, the center T is the avoid for about 6' in any direction, and
the both side Ts are ON the line, so we have to move in about 2' with
the target, right?

Remember these are mainly for creating shot paths or vectors and not so much
to actually hit the targets. My mindset is to clear the net and go hard at the
target. I usually end up flying or overshooting the target a bit (2-8'), but that
matters little cause it still will stay in due to the shorter nature of the targets.

The triangle aspect of the targets relates more to singles and using the botton
2 cones as gates or a funnel to the target area and/or shot vectors.

Also remember the big idea here is to focus on shot vectors that allow us to stay
clear of the lines, where you may miss, get cheated, or get a bad call.

[NE1for10is?]

Originally Posted by 5263

For doubles-
It is pretty easy to just imagine targets near the center T and both side Ts.
Use the center T for hitting between the opponents
and the side T for heavy crosscourt and down the lines.

For singles, the center T is the avoid for about 6' in any direction, and
the both side Ts are ON the line, so we have to move in about 2' with
the target, right?

Remember these are mainly for creating shot paths or vectors and not so much
to actually hit the targets. My mindset is to clear the net and go hard at the
target. I usually end up flying or overshooting the target a bit (2-8'), but that
matters little cause it still will stay in due to the shorter nature of the targets.

The triangle aspect of the targets relates more to singles and using the botton
2 cones as gates or a funnel to the target area and/or shot vectors.

Also remember the big idea here is to focus on shot vectors that allow us to stay
clear of the lines, where you may miss, get cheated, or get a bad call.

Thanks! I just applied that very effectively in a doubles match this morning. We won against a decent team, but more than that, I found that by having those simple targets to shoot for I was able to keep the opponent off balance more easily and limit my dumb errors I would have normally made due to poor shot selection, and hitting angles I never usually hit. I found myself forgetting to hit the targets on overheads and shooting up the middle, only to have the ball come back again and again. Once I realized this and started hitting the overheads for the targets they couldn't get them back. I'm looking forward to trying it out for singles.

[5263]

Originally Posted by NE1for10is?

Thanks! I just applied that very effectively in a doubles match this morning. We won against a decent team, but more than that, I found that by having those simple targets to shoot for I was able to keep the opponent off balance more easily and limit my dumb errors I would have normally made due to poor shot selection, and hitting angles I never usually hit. I found myself forgetting to hit the targets on overheads and shooting up the middle, only to have the ball come back again and again. Once I realized this and started hitting the overheads for the targets they couldn't get them back. I'm looking forward to trying it out for singles.

Sounds like it was a fun outing. I think you experienced how nice it is to have
good default targets to use when you aren't doing something else specific and even
when you are working something else, these targets can play a role at times.
Nice job!

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

You seen the thread about rec layers having no plan at all?

hard to believe, yet at least a couple of posters have agreed!

[5263]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

You seen the thread about rec layers having no plan at all?

hard to believe, yet at least a couple of posters have agreed!

I am also going to post that I agree, as I think the extent of the ones who
do have a plan amounts to almost no plan.
I don't even think connico is right that tournament players all have plans, or
at least a decent one anyway.

90% of what I hear from rec players is something like who to hit to or looking for Bhs.
A few other things like be aggressive or be consistent. I don't think those are much of
a plan.

[5263]

Originally Posted by monomer

It works great.
It quickly made me aware that I tend to hit thru the middle of the court much too often.

After just about a half dozen sessions with the cones I already feel more comfortable hitting to the triangles. I usually take some pace off and eventually will work on getting more power to these locations. It is a great illustration that placement is more important than hitting hard.

I really like reading how this helped you to realize how often you were hitting
down the middle.

On the part I underlined above....I'd like to put that another way just a bit...
and say that your "line of shot" with reasonable power for your level, is more
important than just banging it hard OR hitting for placement near lines.
What do you thinK?

[connico]

Originally Posted by 5263

I am also going to post that I agree, as I think the extent of the ones who
do have a plan amounts to almost no plan.
I don't even think connico is right that tournament players all have plans, or
at least a decent one anyway.

90% of what I hear from rec players is something like who to hit to or looking for Bhs.
A few other things like be aggressive or be consistent. I don't think those are much of a plan.

They are still plans. No one walks blindly into a match... hitting smart targets.. that's a plan...

[5263]

Originally Posted by connico

They are still plans. No one walks blindly into a match... hitting smart targets.. that's a plan...

Yes, hitting to Smart Targets is a basic plan and how to use them and work
with them is a higher level plan.
Are you still arguing the "straw man" about the literal meaning of "No plan".
I think most of the reasonable posters have excepted that the intent was
related to not having much of a plan and not tailoring play to the opponent.
A few of you seem stuck on a very literal interpretation of the statement.
Either way, posters like me made the allowance that players have very basic
plans, and then went on to discuss how they fell far short, so your comment
directed to me makes no sense.

[connico]

Originally Posted by 5263

Yes, hitting to Smart Targets is a basic plan and how to use them and work
with them is a higher level plan.
Are you still arguing the "straw man" about the literal meaning of "No plan".
I think most of the reasonable posters have excepted that the intent was
related to not having much of a plan and not tailoring play to the opponent.
A few of you seem stuck on a very literal interpretation of the statement.
Either way, posters like me made the allowance that players have very basic
plans, and then went on to discuss how they fell far short, so your comment
directed to me makes no sense.

lol, makes perfects sense to me. The majority of REC players have plans and don't win by luck. No matter how crap, insignificant, poor, shoddy, obvious etc.. the plan is its still a plan.

The op's quote in that particular thread is a sweeping statement that is incorrect and belittles every rec player there is. Labelling REC tennis plays as nothing by monkey's swinging blindly.

[5263]

Originally Posted by connico

lol, makes perfects sense to me. The majority of REC players have plans and don't win by luck. No matter how crap, insignificant, poor, shoddy, obvious etc.. the plan is its still a plan.

The op's quote in that particular thread is a sweeping statement that is incorrect and belittles every rec player there is. Labelling REC tennis plays as nothing by monkey's swinging blindly.

Ok, your opinion was heard. I also agreed with you if we take the literal meaning, as anyone will.

[5263]

Originally Posted by asked_answered

Thanks very much for your response! The next time I'm hitting with the ball machine, I will put out cones and see how the targeting works, in light of your suggestions and parameters. Then, hopefully, after some good practice sessions, I'll able to utilize the smarter targets effectively in a match setting.

Hit that ball machine yet?

[asked_answered]

Originally Posted by 5263

Hit that ball machine yet?

Yes, I have, thanks! I've worked on hitting my forehand and backhand crosscourt into those triangles, while avoiding the central rectangle. It's been very helpful for my consistency.

[5263]

Originally Posted by asked_answered

Yes, I have, thanks! I've worked on hitting my forehand and backhand crosscourt into those triangles, while avoiding the central rectangle. It's been very helpful for my consistency.

Sounds good and look forward to hearing about you using it well in some
match play!

[5263]

Originally Posted by asked_answered

Yes, I have, thanks! I've worked on hitting my forehand and backhand crosscourt into those triangles, while avoiding the central rectangle. It's been very helpful for my consistency.

Maybe we can hear how some of your matchplay has gone with this.

If you can learn to use these targets with higher net clearance on rally shots, and flatter trajectory
on mid court attacks, it can help greatly, even if it mainly
just keeps your balls out of the avoid area.

Another important aspect is that Smart Targets will help you avoid the fatal step/hit pass
when you approach with a powerful approach shot.
Step/hit pass is when you get a mid ct ball and blast it within a step or 2 of the
opponent as you come to net. It may work fine against weak players, but good
ones will take a step and redirect your power into a pass that comes by you
before you can transition thru no-man's land. The combination of your power and
their short travel distance leaves you caught in no-mans land. Remember this
if someone uses a power approach on you where you can just take 1 step or so
to reach their shot. Your pass does not have to be the best due to their poor position.

By hitting to the Smart Target away from your opponent, you put them on the move,
and when they are moving you can too! You can use their moving time to execute a
successful transition to good net position...even when using a power approach shot
and avoiding being the victim of a step/hit passing shot.

[bhupaes]

I am doing much better in matches using smart targets - so thanks again, 5263! I still tend to aim a little safer, but hit harder. Due to natural variation in shots, a lot of them hit just the right spot. It's amazing how this forces the opponent to move, and keeps them on the defense. I realized (the hard way, of course ) that it's important to hit to the target area that's further away from the opponent, whenever possible. Very few people hit well when they are forced to move, it seems...

[Roforot]

One thing I would add is to practice hitting these targets from different depths. I usually stay at the baseline, but played a guy who's rally ball had so much spin, I had to play 6-7' behind the baseline. This actually makes the court look a lot different and I found especially on my BH side I had trouble keeping the ball out of the "avoid" box.

I've also started practicing hitting short balls; I typically aim for the deep target but because this guy was set up behind the baseline, those shots didn't really rush him and actually were in his strike zone. I realize I need to aim "short" and angle between the two up targets to take advantage of his court position.

[asked_answered]

Originally Posted by 5263

Maybe we can hear how some of your matchplay has gone with this.

If you can learn to use these targets with higher net clearance on rally shots, and flatter trajectory
on mid court attacks, it can help greatly, even if it mainly
just keeps your balls out of the avoid area.

Another important aspect is that Smart Targets will help you avoid the fatal step/hit pass
when you approach with a powerful approach shot.
Step/hit pass is when you get a mid ct ball and blast it within a step or 2 of the
opponent as you come to net. It may work fine against weak players, but good
ones will take a step and redirect your power into a pass that comes by you
before you can transition thru no-man's land. The combination of your power and
their short travel distance leaves you caught in no-mans land. Remember this
if someone uses a power approach on you where you can just take 1 step or so
to reach their shot. Your pass does not have to be the best due to their poor position.

By hitting to the Smart Target away from your opponent, you put them on the move,
and when they are moving you can too! You can use their moving time to execute a
successful transition to good net position...even when using a power approach shot
and avoiding being the victim of a step/hit passing shot.

The only competitive matches I've had this summer have been with my weekly practice match partner, a 4.0. (I'm a 3.5.) My practice partner hits really strong, well-placed shots with good consistency. So, I definitely have to hit to the smarter targets to stay in rallies (and occasionally win them). He's particularly adept at hitting winners off my weak replies that land in the middle of the court (what I call the Rectangle of Death). I have, therefore, lots of incentive to hit to the smarter targets, when I play someone like my practice partner.

As for approach shots, my practice partner is exactly the type of player who can smash a fast approach shot back at my feet or past me, if I don't make him run first. (He'll still pass me on an approach shot made into a smarter target zone because he's a good player, and my approach shot is a work in progress.)

Thanks for the tips!

[5263]

Originally Posted by bhupaes

I am doing much better in matches using smart targets - so thanks again, 5263! I still tend to aim a little safer, but hit harder. Due to natural variation in shots, a lot of them hit just the right spot. It's amazing how this forces the opponent to move, and keeps them on the defense. I realized (the hard way, of course ) that it's important to hit to the target area that's further away from the opponent, whenever possible. Very few people hit well when they are forced to move, it seems...

You make some good points. I think it is always good to put the opponent on the
move except when you need to put the ball back where it came from.

By the way, has anyone notice Li Na hitting more topspin and using the
smart targets more since she got her new coach Carlos?
Sure looks that way against Venus.

[Ballinbob]

I've been practicing smart targets for ~1 month now and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with the results. Beat a guy 6-3,6-3 today who I have never beaten before in my life. Every rally we had he was running much more than I was and was being pulled out wide much more than I was. Every time he tried to change the direction of the ball I just hit it back cross court to the other smart target. I wore him down by the end of the match and I was able to come through against a guy who has always gotten the best of me.

I'm not really hitting the ball any harder than I was before, just using more spin and making a conscious effort to hit my spots. I've been much more consistent using this strategy, and it feels pretty good.

Just one thing though guys- Be careful of hitting a really slow, really short looper cross court. Just because you are going for a bit more angle with these smart targets doesn't mean you have to take a ton of pace off your normal shot. Did that a lot when starting out until I figured out you can hit a pretty heavy topspin shot and still hit the angle- no need to push or anything. I feel like the topspin helps alot

Anyway just felt like I owed you a thank you. I had hit a plateau in my game before this, feels good to be improving again and seeing positive results in match play

[5263]

Originally Posted by Ballinbob

I've been practicing smart targets for ~1 month now and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with the results. Beat a guy 6-3,6-3 today who I have never beaten before in my life. Every rally we had he was running much more than I was and was being pulled out wide much more than I was. Every time he tried to change the direction of the ball I just hit it back cross court to the other smart target. I wore him down by the end of the match and I was able to come through against a guy who has always gotten the best of me.

I'm not really hitting the ball any harder than I was before, just using more spin and making a conscious effort to hit my spots. I've been much more consistent using this strategy, and it feels pretty good.

Just one thing though guys- Be careful of hitting a really slow, really short looper cross court. Just because you are going for a bit more angle with these smart targets doesn't mean you have to take a ton of pace off your normal shot. Did that a lot when starting out until I figured out you can hit a pretty heavy topspin shot and still hit the angle- no need to push or anything. I feel like the topspin helps alot

Anyway just felt like I owed you a thank you. I had hit a plateau in my game before this, feels good to be improving again and seeing positive results in match play

Excellent post and story! You make an excellent point about slow rollers; a slow roller must be a deeper ball.
These smart targets are for crisply or harder
hit balls. If anything, the safety of these targets being away from the lines
should lead to being able to cut lose and hit with more pace...not less.

I appreciate the thank you and glad to hear how it is helping you!
Thanks for the helpful comments on how to use these targets.